Lisbon, Portugal Meeting Planning Overview

The governmental, cultural, and economic heart of Portugal, Lisbon is a stunning capital city. One of the most charismatic and vibrant cities in Europe, Lisbon effortlessly blends traditional heritage with striking modernism and a rich and varied history. Visitors rave about the lively nightlife and lovely year-round climate.

Lisbon Portela Airport is the city's international airport, also known by its Portuguese name of Aeroporto da Portela de Sacavem. Located 7 km north of the city center, the airport is the main hub of TAP Portugal and its subsidiary TAP Express, a focus city for easyJet, Ryanair, and Azores Airlines and also the base for charter airlines euroAtlantic Airways, Hi Fly, and White Airways. The airport operates flights to and from all around Europe and the world. There are seasonal flights direct to North America too. Lisbon Airport is connected with the city center through well-developed network of trams and funiculars.

Situated on the River Tagus, or Rio Tejo to locals, and with a modest population, Lisbon is home to several MICE venues that are housed in age-old buildings. Chief among MICE venues, Lisbon Congress Center, or Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, has eight auditoriums, five exhibit halls, 33 meeting rooms, a restaurant and two car parks, offering the ideal conditions for holding congresses, exhibitions, and other events. Lisbon MICE hotels include the 577-room Lisbon Marriott, which has 16 event rooms to host up to 600 persons; the 518-room Corinthia Lisbon (with its largest space holding up to 1,400 delegates); the 369-room Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa (largest space for more than 600 persons); and the 331-room InterContinental Lisbon (for up to 450 delegates).

Similar to other cities in Southern Europe, Lisbon enjoys a delightfully warm climate most of the year with an average temperature of 16°C. The dry season usually begins in May and lasts through October. The hottest months of the year are July and August, when temperatures can peak at 37°C, but cool Atlantic breezes provide a fresh relief from the heat.

During the months of November to March, Lisbon becomes a bit chillier with temperatures dipping to between 1°C and 15°C. Although sometimes cool, Lisbon never sees snowfall nor negative temperatures. The rainiest months are January, February, April, November and December. Lisbon sees approximately 100 rainy days per year.

Lisbon enjoys beautiful weather year-round, but the very best time to go is during the spring and summer months. Whether strolling past historic monuments or basking along the sun-drenched shores, Lisbon is a city best enjoyed outdoors.

Meeting Planning in Lisbon, Portugal

FIL Exhibition Centre

Founded in 1957, the International Fair of Lisbon (FIL) is the leading tradeshow, fair and exhibition organizer in the country. Its amazingly diverse and modernized space, located in the Parque das Nações, is one of Europe's most sought-after sites for conventions and meetings.

The FIL Meeting Centre's four interconnected pavilions encompass an area of 40,800 square meters. Additionally, the facility boasts three auditoriums, four meeting rooms, an exhibition area, a registration area, a restaurant, and a parking lot with more than 800 parking spaces. Amenities include state-of-the-art audio-visual, wifi access and banquet services.

On the banks of the Tagus River sits one of Lisbon's most dramatic and breathtaking convention destinations. The Lisbon Congress Centre is easily accessible via public transportation and features a parking lot of 1,100 spaces

The Lisbon Congress Centre offers incredible flexibility and functionality for meeting planners. The facility includes 9,000 square meters of space spanning across eight auditoriums, five halls and 25 conference rooms. Featuring the latest in audio-visual and IT equipment, the Congress Centre can provide wifi service throughout the buildings.

Additionally, the venue is home to a beautiful waterfront restaurant with space for up to 400 diners and scenic vistas of the charming waterfront area.

Lisbon, Portugal Airport Information

Lisbon Airport (LIS)

Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) is the city's international airport, also known by its Portuguese name of Aeroporto da Portela de Sacavem. Its flights go all around Europe and the world, to North America via Air Transat (to Toronto), United Airlines (Newark, NJ), and TAP Portugal (also Newark), for which the airport serves as its hub. There also are seasonal flights direct to North America, too. The airport sits within Lisbon itself, only four miles from the center.

Lisbon, Portugal Public Transportation

Rail

Santa Apolonia and Gare do Oriente

Lisbon's two major train stations allow for easy access throughout Portugal and Europe. The stations are easily accessible via Lisbon Metro and enable visitors to reach all corners of the city.

Lisbon Metro

Lisbon Metro is a safe, easy, and economical way to travel throughout the city. The first subway in Portugal, the system consists of four color-coded lines covering a major part of the city. Transfer between lines can be made at six stations in or near the city center. The metro system has undergone significant expansion in recent years, and additional tracks are under construction to link it to Lisbon Airport.

Carris (Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa)

The main company in charge of running the public ground transport of Lisbon, Carris operates a network of funiculars, trams, and buses, to help visitors navigate the city's larger hills.

Trams

Carris operates Lisbon's electric tram, the traditional form of transportation in the city. Today's tram system consists of five lines, three of which operate in the city center.

In addition to the modern-day trams, Carris operates a few small yellow trams that date from the early 20th century. These trams are a great tourist attraction.

Buses

Carris operates 184 bus lines stretching to all corners of Lisbon. The Aero-Bus, line 91, runs from Lisbon Airport to the city center every 20 minutes. After 1:00 am, a small number of night buses operate in the city and are the only public transportation option for late-night travel.

Lisbon, Portugal Ground Transportation

Rental Cars

Lisbon Airport features seven on-site rental car companies. Check-in counters for Auto Jardim, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National, and Sixt can be found in the atrium of the arrivals hall.

Taxis

Taxis are a reliable option in Lisbon and are available at two stands at Lisbon Airport. There is a per-kilometer fee for travel to the city and an additional charge is applied for each item of luggage. Visitors can also purchase a special voucher at the airport, good for travel anywhere in the city with any number of pieces of luggage.